Sunday, March 30, 2008

This really was a great day. I got to see all of my favorite people. Deidra called me and I grabbed a coffee with her. Iantxted me not far from my place Dee-Dee went to take care of some things and Ian & I went for a drive. By the time we were back, Dee was finished and I got to hang out with her a bit longer, I walked her home since she lives right next door to the gym. I ran for a half hour and watched the Simpsons, good workout. I got back to my house and Ian picked me up and we went to get Colin at the airport. Once Colin was home safe Ian drove back downtown and dropped me back at my place. Mike W is in town, HOORAY! I gave Mike a call and we went to Sneaky Dee's for a beer, then we went to check the Stormalongs jam session. It's Matt Thompson's 26th birthday. I remember his 19th, that was when he got the Shlong-Bong. So being a Birthday jam, it had a very special vibe. My brother Paul was there recording, and I got to rock my scream on Kierkegaard.

So I really got to see all the people I love and care about today, I'm going to sleep a happy dude.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

People often mispronounce my friend Jagger's name. It's Jag as in Mick Jagger, not Yog as in Jaromir Jager.

Yogurt came to Toronto to buy a Nintendo wii, which are still in short supply in London, Ontario. We went to the Future Shop at the new Toronto Life building. We checked out Best Buy, which is the same company, but they had sold out that morning. I bought my Nintendo wii at the same best buy on November 19th 2006 and they still cant keep them on the shelves! So he picked up the wii along with Mario Galaxy(best-game-ever!), wii play, and Sega's Master Baiter Bass Fishing. He has a new TV and he had his girlfriend are both excited to play their new system. He kept looking at the box, even tho I have one. We played my nintendo till late. In the morning we met Matt and his girlfriend Anna and Nim at Sneaky Dee's. Yogsy and I both had the eggs benny, fantastic. I told Nim I had been going to the gym and he waited for the punchline. Yogi drove back to his lady with the wii, triumphant.

Friday, March 28, 2008

When I signed up for the gym two weeks ago I paid for 6 sessions with a trainer so I could learn to use the weight training equipment. The sessions cost about 22 bucks each. At the end of the sessions my trainer and I went over my current goals and what it would take to achieve them. She figures about 3 months should do it, then she tells how much 6 months at 3 times a week, I guess to make the price for 3 months sound like a deal. 69$ per session, only 4454$, or 12 easy payments of 396$. Fuck that! It only makes sense if you are a fat lawyer or some other executive who has no reason to go to the gym unless he has an appointment with someone. I can go running every day and do the weight training on my own three times a week.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

I used to work at Sam The Record Man. Every day, without fail, someone would ask me for The Beatles HELP! or Pink Floyd's Pulse or the TV series Perfect Strangers. I would tell them those titles were not available on DVD and the customer would then call me an idiot and say that they had seen it on ebay. People were burning DVD's from VHS and selling them on Ebay, and people would come in looking for them and call me out when I told them there was no legitimate release. I used to go to Ebay with the customer and point out the homemade packaging or the shipping location (Hong Kong). "But ____ is so popular! How could it not be on DVD!?!" the foolish customer would ask, not understanding the complexities of studios release schedules. Eventually the customer would be convinced and head home, giving up on their quest to harass every video store in the Yonge/Dundas area for a DVD that did not exist.

But wait!On a recent trip to HMV, I realized that these titles have now all been released. Just as people begin the switch to Blu-Ray DVD!

"We fought hard for the right to be in control of how our music is used, to avoid situations like this kind of crass commercialism and exploitation. Labels like EMI are no longer running the show, and we won't be bullied by those in the 'old' music business who consider every artist to be easily expendable. Those days are over."- Billy Corgan

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS have filed a lawsuit this week against Virgin Records, their former record label, for the unauthorized exploitation of the band's musical works and image as well as for devaluing the market value of its music and deceiving its fans.

Filed in the Superior Court of the State of California in Los Angeles, the suit states that Virgin Records-without the band's knowledge or permission-endorsed and sponsored a worldwide promotional marketing campaign by Amazon.com and Pepsi for both companies to promote and sell Amazon and Pepsi products for financial profit.

The suit contends that the Pumpkins-one of alternative rock's most successful artists-have vigilantly overseen their music and likeness, which "convey a message of honesty, artistic integrity and alternative non-main stream culture" and that Virgin Records has "irreparably harmed the group, their reputation and goodwill with their fans."

The Pumpkins would never have granted such authority to Virgin, or any other entity, because they govern the use of its name, likeness, and musical works in conjunction with any commercial affiliation or sponsorship. Therefore, the suit indicates "Virgin has deceived and confused the public into believing that Plaintiff is affiliated with the promotion and/or that Plaintiff itself is participating in the promotion."

The Pumpkins are demanding, as the suit states, "a full and complete accounting of all funds received by Virgin pursuant to the Pepsi promotion" and the band is "entitled to an award of punitive damages against Virgin in an amount according to proof."

The suit maintains that "Virgin's action, unless and until enjoined and restrained by order of this Court, will cause great and irreparable injury to Plaintiff, as it continues to falsely attribute Plaintiff's sponsorship and/or affiliation with the promotion, and continues to provide Plaintiff's musical works at a price below the market value of the works, thereby damaging Plaintiff's reputation and reducing the market value of Plaintiff's musical works."

Says Billy Corgan: "'It's a frustrating situation honestly, to be treated so poorly by a label where we had so much success. Recently, they have ignored our pleas to give our fans special editions of our old albums, telling us they weren't interested. So there is a tremendous amount of hypocrisy involved with them turning around and using us like this."

"It's another desperate attempt," says Jimmy Chamberlin, "by an anachronistic business to generate revenue however they can, legal or illegal. They have neither the wisdom to accept their irrelevance, nor the intelligence to do something about it." He adds: "Just goes to show that they will do about anything for money. Seems they have long forgotten how to actually 'work' for a dollar."

The Pumpkins, who last year released the gold-certified Zeitgeist album on Martha's Music/Reprise, are currently on tour in Australia. The band has created one of the most acclaimed bodies of work in music history. Formed in Chicago in 1988, they released Gish, their influential (and platinum) debut in 1991, which was followed by more platinum and multi-platinum albums including the nine-times platinum Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness and the four-times platinum Siamese Dream. The pivotal group's many hits include "Disarm," "Today," "Cherub Rock," "1979," "Tonight, Tonight" and "Bullet With Butterfly Wings"-songs that defined the alternative music era and continue to resonate on modern rock radio, influencing a whole new generation.

Isn't that awesome? They wanted to release special editions of the old records and the label didn't want to. What a bunch of stupid assholes!

And as for the future of the Pumpkins, from Jimmy Chaiberlain himself:

As the tour winds down I would just like to say what a pleasure and an honor it was to play for so many of you. I try to never forget that my job is a sacred privilege. Music, the thing that binds you to me and all of us to the Universe is my light.

Let me also say that this band, The Smashing Pumpkins, will continue to write, record, release, and perform AS LONG AS WE ARE ABLE!

Some of you may have read bits of an interview that was done in confidence by yours truly in which I say that the Pumpkins probably won't record cd's anymore. What I meant by this is this: Although we may not use the "album" or "full length cd" as a format anymore, WE WILL WRITE AND RECORD MUSIC UNTIL WE ARE DEAD!!!!!!!! WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY!!!!!!!!

I could go on about how I was stolen from, violated, lied to by some ignoble journalist, but what's the point?

I choose light.

Love Jimmy.That is some great news Jimmy! Music is changing so fast. It really is a brave new world. I can't wait to hear what the Smashing Pumpkins come up with. I hope a Canadian tour is planned for sometime this year.

Monday, March 24, 2008

I went to see I Am Legend at the new Yonge/Dundas AMC 24 with my brother Marc today. They're showing 3rd run movies (almost or already out on dvd) for free to test the staff and promote the opening. All the screens have digital protectors, and let me say, it looked awesome. I think I found my new home. The seating was more comfortable and better placed than the Scotiabank/Paramount Theatre. I am going back this weekend when they open with fresh new movies, for sure.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

I worked out with Deidra this morning, it was fun. The gym has this crazy machine that works all the muscle groups, I have been going through it with a trainer for the past week. My trainer Jamie really pushes me hard (It is her job). Deidra and I actually have the same trainer which is cool. This was the first time I would attempt the machine without the trainer so I was glad DD was there. I warmed up with a run, and then I went through the machine-thingy with DD as my motivator. She really kept me working, cause I think without someone watching me I wouldn't push as hard. It was actually more intense cause I was trying to impress Deidra. So once I finished she warmed up on the bike and I did some stretches. Then she went through the machine and I was Tony Little. Then she showed me some exercises Jamie had taught her. It was a really good workout and I look forward to the next one.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

I saw Drillbit Taylor today. It was really funny. It's about 3 geeks who hire an ex soldier to protect them from a bully, unknowing he is homeless and out to fleece them. It was written by Kristofor Brown & Seth Rogen. Seth is brilliant, he wrote Superbad with Evan Goldberg. He is my hero! The kids were funny and Owen Willson was hilarious! One of the kids looked a lot like I did in grade 9.This is me in Grade 9.

Friday, March 21, 2008

The bowl broke on my bong. It's a pull choke so its easily replaced. It's actually happened 3 times in the past 6 months, but the last two times I replaced it with the cheapest bowl possible. It's no wonder they keep smashing.

We stoners often use an electric coffee grinder or "Bud Buster" to cut up Marijuana. They get jammed up with crystals, and the lid wont come off, and then the button wont even go down. I've seen it happen before to others, and mine just stopped working.

So I went to Roach-o-Rama in Kensington. I picked up a nice heavy bowl, sturdy, and I also got a metal hand grinder with a tricomb catcher, so the crystals wont get lost and go to waste.

Well it turns out the bowl wasn't the right size, so I'm gonna go back tomorrow and exchange it. The grinder works excellent.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The guys played Clinton's, it was a good show. Not many people were there. Nim showed up to film the show. Paul was supposed to come but ended up at the wrong bar (classic). They gave out some Cd's after the show, so I guess we have a few more fans. I think they need to play a show on a weekend and promote the hell out of it, that would be a good move for the band.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

What a good night sleep. I wouldn't have even gotten out of bed if I didn't have to pee so bad! I love my new bed, even if it takes up most of my room.

I went to my first Japanese class. It will defiantly require me to do a lot of reading between classes in order to keep up. I really want to do well so I can speak with Koji in Japanese when I visit him later this year.

Monday, March 17, 2008

I had to run back from the gym to meet the Ikea delivery guys. I spent the rest of the day assembling my new bed. Paul came over, we burned and he helped me with the drawers that go in the bottom of the bed.

We went to see the Stormalongs rehearse in the Heaven Room. I was so pooched I closed my eyes for a second and when I opened them, Nim was there, it was great to see my old roommate again. It was the longest rehearsal in a while, four hours! I did my patented scream on Kierkegaard.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

I spent the day with Mom, Grandma and Andy at IKEA. They hooked me right up. My room should look just like the catalog when the stuff gets delivered tomorrow. I want to say thank you so much for everything, to my Mom, I had fun hanging out! Thanks to Andy for being such a trooper and G-mo for being G-mo. You are the best!

Ode to IkeaSwedish meatballs...Modular Furniture...Guys named Sven and Bjorn.

I walked Mom to Union Station, and we walked by Max Payne shooting at 1 King West. The building was all lit up, there were NYPD Police Cars, a SWAT van, fake subway stairs. They were adding snow around the sidewalk. It was cool.

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Stormalongs Rehearsal We were in the Pink Floyd room, can you tell? We have been runing into trouble with the amps at the Rehearsal Factory, Mo-Mo had the bogus amp this time, last time it was Colin.The new songs are coming together nicely. Days Alight (Shake the trees) has a crazy cool intro that still needs some work, but it will sound awesome live.The older stuff was easy as pie, and they rocked through them quick and painless.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

The new Weezer will be out in June, according to the man himself from weezer.com:

"Hey Weezer punks,We have one song left to mix and then it’s on to mastering. We should be all done very soon. Then we chill for a minute.The album will be out in June so with any luck you will hear a new Weezer song on the radio soon. I think I know which song is the first single but I’m not sure so I can’t tell you. I’ll give you some hints, though. It’s one word, starts with a T, ends with an R and contains twelve letters. You should be able to figure it out because you’re smart li’l Weezer fans.The album is meaty, crunchy and melodic like a good Weezer album should be.Peace out,-Rivers"

I can't wait to hear the new album, and Weezer always hits Toronto when touring, maybe I can even catch a Japan date when they go there.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

I woke up at 8 to meet my Granny Mo at the Eaton Centre. When I went to shower, I smelled burning, so I went to the basement and some asshole left the oven on again. This is the note I left:

"Asshole,You left the oven on all night, AGAINThanks, now the whole house smells like burningWhat are you trying to do, kill us?"

I had a good breakfast before I left the house. Grams gets help with her mac at the apple store. I met G-Mo right on time. We had a coffee and walked around. She had to hurry home so I took the subway back with her so we could try to finish our conversation. Good times.

I got home around noon and Governor Eliot Spitzer was on tv, resigning because of a lapse in judgment. He spent 80,000$ on whores! That's over a 10 year period, but still a rather large entertainment budget.

I made a great ham sandwich, Then I went and joined a gym. Seriously, I joined a gym. I even worked out after I got the tour. I ran on the treadmill for a half hour, felt really good.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

My tax refund came in yesterday. I don't get to enjoy any of it, I guess I already did. It all went on my credit card. I was actually considering racking up some more debt with a crazy trip to California. I decided I really can't afford it, but I told Mikey about the good deal at Air Canada, and he booked a flight! Mikey is coming to Toronto for the first two weeks of April! We are gonna have some good times.

I have been having trouble finding the studio version of the new Smashing Pumpkins track Superchrist from Guitar Center's Fresh Tracks. We don't have Guitar Center in Canada. I found it thanks to Davin at Netphoria. I made it real easy with a rapidshare link right here; Smashing Pumpkins Superchrist.mp3

It's a heavy rocker they first introduced at the Fillmore shows last summer. It's evolved since then and it sounds great.

Monday, March 10, 2008

I'm going to be learning Japanese! I signed up for Japanese lessons at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. It starts next week. I can't wait to go see Koji in Japan later this year and actually speak some Japanese!

Granny Mo lives right nearby, so I got to hang out with her. We walked to the Jccc and checked it out. They have a huge Daruma doll. I have a tiny one that Koji gave me when he came to visit in February. I made a wish and filled in one of the eyes. When I go to Japan I can fill in the other eye. It only has one eye, like me! My Grandma is really nice to talk to, and she is helping me with a lot of things right now.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

We sprang forward one hour. If I used my time more efficiently it may have actually affected my life.

I cleaned my bong today. It had developed a nasty stank, which led to nasty tokes. I went to Friendly Stranger and got some Orange Chronic bong cleaner and a new rubber gasket which was surprisingly easy to change. The cleaner got the stink out, thankfully.

I went over to Colin's house tonight. Matt came over too, acoustic jam session styles! They played some Stormalongs songs, and then there was the obligatory lute number(w/solo).

Saturday, March 08, 2008

The fourth Breeders record (the first since 2002) doesn't come out in stores for another month, but they still rocked the Phoenix tonight with mostly new tracks.They opened with Overglazed the first track off Mounain Battles. They did a wicked cover of the BeatlesHappiness is a Warm Gun. This is a picture of the Breeders rocking their hit Cannonball. Kelley Deal asked if everyone had downloaded the new record yet.

Friday, March 07, 2008

I went to see The Stormalongs jam session tonight. We were in the "heaven" room, which had topless angels on the wall, classy. The heat was cranked, and Colin's amp sucked (it had "no balls"), but the guys rocked it out anyways. Mo-Mo was sick with what could only be described as black death.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Standing in the shadow of the Midnight Mansion, by the snowmobiler who is not supposed to be there, Gibson waits, cold and wet, and just in time for another round of the bowlaroos. Saturday April 14th 2001

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

The new NIN is, you guessed it, free! I tried buying the cd version (2 discs and you get to download it right away) for 10$, but the shipping was 13$! Thats 23$, i'd be better off buying my music at the store! So I tried paying the 5$ to download it, but they were having problems with their website, so I finally just downloaded it without paying anything. The future is now.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Smashing Pumpkins - Soundcheck, Frankfurt 22/02/2008

I just finished watching the full video, it took me 2 days to download. If you haven't seen this, it's one of the coolest recordings I've seen since the 666Tape. This guy got to watch the band soundcheck a new song, and recorded the whole thing!

There is a 10 minute clip on youtube, a torrent of the full 49minutes is available from zomb.

Jeff Healey passed away, he was 41. We were both born with a rare form of Cancer called Retinoblastoma. It is a Cancer of the eyes that occurs 4 times in every 1,000,000 births. I lost my right eye, Jeff lost both of his. Contrary to what is being reported, he did not die of Retinoblastoma, as he had no eyes. He had a daughter who was born without cancer but his son was born with the disease. Apparently he didn't know having previously had cancer made him more likely to get other forms of cancer. He developed Cancer in his lungs and legs.

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Smashing Pumpkins Are Free Agents!

Guitar Center has posted an interview with Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chaimberlain. The interview is to promote the release of Superchrist, a new studio track available exclusively on a new Guitar Center Compilation Cd offered at their stores. When Corgan is asked about the state of the music industry and the Pumpkins, he answers:

"Well, I’d say the best thing is that we’re out of a label deal – totally free agents. We we’re just talking about how we’re going to start addressing our artistic relationships with the world in a different manner because we don’t have to go through some parental structure of “we don’t like it and it’s not going to sell” – you know? We’re excited about the prospects of sort of being our own business people in terms of how it interrelates business."

Corgan is no doubt referring to Virgin Records refusal to release Machina ii:F&EOMM.The Smashing Pumpkins began their career with singles on indie labels Limited Potential and Sub Pop, putting out their first record Gish on Caroline(a Virgin affiliate). After Gish the Pumpkins formally signed with Virgin Records, where they released the bulk of their albums.

After Machina: The Machines of God, their obligations to Virgin complete, the Pumpkins offered the label a bonus, Machina ii:The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music. Virgin declined to release it, so the band gave 25 vinyl copies of the record to fans, who spread it over the internet.

The Pumpkins broke-up in 2000, Billy Corgan released a solo record in 2005 on Reprise Records (A Warner Music Group Company).

The Smashing Pumpkins reformed in 2007 and released Zeitgeist on Reprise. On January 1st of this year the Pumpkins released American Gothic exclusivly on the American Itunes store.

With big name acts like Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and now The Smashing Pumpkins directly in control of the distribution of their music the future of the industry has never been more exciting for music fans and never more bleak for the Corporate suits.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Weezer, Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto Ontario 08/31/00

I was living at my Dad's house in Parry Sound, it was the summer. I had my first job, washing dishes at Resort Tapatoo. I was on my break reading the concert announcements in the Toronto Star, and I was shocked, I couldn't believe what I saw. Weezer was going to play Toronto.

I got 2 tickets, I knew I could convince Colin it was worth the trip. I actually didn't plan on staying in Parry Sound. I hated the school and I missed O'Gorman. I figured I'd go back to Timmins with Colin and stay at his house till I figured something out. His mom gave the o.k. and the plan was hatched. Colin took the bus to Parry Sound and we partied.I had a huge bottle of rum, this is Colin and I enjoying Rum and Lemon.

We took the bus to Toronto and went to wait in front of the Phoenix. Some girls were already waiting, and they had an extra ticket which they sold to this guy Mark, who lived across the street. He let us use his bathroom which was great after Colin went for food and came back with Steerburger. we waited out front all afternoon, which was a good idea cause look who showed up:

It's Weezer's drummer Patrick Willson and Weezer's Karl Koch, Karl Koch!Colin was like "Hey Pat! Is it true Rivers wears disguise so fans don't recognize him? Like I hear he wears a fake beard and a Nor'easter!" Pat confirmed Rivers often travels incognito.